Just seven months after its official debut in July 2020, the all-new Baojun RC-5W has been abruptly discontinued in China – the only country in the world where General Motors’ youngest brand is marketed. Apparently, Baojun‘s first compact wagon had marketing issues in China, and for this reason, SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) has decided to relaunch the vehicle under a different name.
GM’s second joint venture in China has just unveiled the first official images of the successor to the Baojun RC-5W that will be launched during the second quarter of this year. The vehicle maintains exactly the same design as the RC-5W, but adds eye-catching special treatment with larger alloy wheels and a roof rack, giving it more personality while enhancing its familiar appearance.
Although SGMW did not reveal the new name for the wagon variant of the compact-sized Baojun RC-5, according to unofficial leaked information and some spy photos captured by the Chinese media, it is very likely that the vehicle will go on sale under the name Valli. However, at this point, it’s unclear whether the car’s official name will be Baojun Valli or Baojun RC-5 Valli, considering that it is still a member of the RC-5 line.
Until now, all Baojun next-generation vehicles with the brand’s new diamond logo use a naming strategy that includes two letters and one number to classify the range by family. The first letter is always the R – for revolution, the second varies depending on the body style and can be S (SUV), C (Car) or M (MPV), while the number designates the size of the model and its position in the brand’s lineup.
The extinct Baojun RC-5W was the only model that bended the rule by adding a third letter after the number, a peculiar decision as it overloads the model’s name by including another initial for the body type, in this case W to denote the wagon style. Instead of facilitating the product marketing of the model, it ends up complicating it.
To resolve this issue, the Baojun RC-5W will be relaunched shortly under a different name that includes the word Valli with which SGMW hopes to better highlight its positioning and optimize the marketing strategy. All the details of Baojun’s upcoming new compact wagon will be revealed in the coming weeks, as its official launch nears before the end of the second quarter of the year.
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Comments
Boajun could make a great Plymouth-like or Dacia style brand. Unfortunately I don’t think GM wants this in the US.
Chevrolet selling Baojun globally demonstrates Chevy as a bargain basement brand in most markets. Buick is the closest think GM has to a VW rival. GM is nuts for not experimenting with Buick in Australia and then Europe
Buick will never be a rival to VW as long as it keeps the pathetic products lineup of only boring and cookie-cutter crossovers and SUV´s it has. And even less in Europe where besides boring SUV´s & crossovers, VW also produces sedans, hatchbacks, sports cars, transport vehicles and a pick up.
Why post China’s sellers in US…
This could replace the Regal Tourer for Buick.